Multi-group Vigil / Concert / Rally with Sirota well attended!

Multi-group Vigil / Concert / Rally with Sirota well attended!
(Originally posted on Square State)

Wednesday's concert and vigil at Confluence park attracted more than 1000 political activists from all over Colorado. Guest speakers David Sirota, Dr. Irene Aguilar, Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Vice President of SEIU and numerous volunteers told health care horror stories, discussed the political challenges around the health insurance industry, and pumped up the crowd to take action.

A candlelight vigil honored the estimated 800 people who died in Colorado last year alone from inadequate access to health care. Latino band "Debajo del Aqua" provided upbeat music between the vigil and each speaker. Throughout the crowd, news of Senator Mark Udall's

SEIU prepared dozens of "story boards" -- large panels with photos and stories of real people in the Denver area with health care nightmares. Hundreds of blue "scrubs" shirts were signed with the names of people who have died, and a number of them were strung together around the perimeter of the stage area. Pro-health care reform signs including, "Single payer", "People of faith for health care reform" and "People not profits" were everywhere. This attendee did not see a single protester against health care insurance at this very large event.

The rally/vigil/concert was planned and sponsored by SEIU/Change that Works, with many other groups participating: MoveOn.org, Health Care for All Colorado, Organizing for America, etc. SEIU State Director Kjersten Forseth called the event "a huge success".

Thursdays Denver Post covered the second rally in a week to attract more than 1000 people demanding health insurance reform, on page 17A. The front page was reserved for a few crazy parents in Highlands Ranch who do not want their children going to school to be "influenced to be a liberal" by President of the United States, Barack Obama.